C—2

Buller District Mitchell's Opencast Mine, Charleston (E. Rooney (Quarry Permit), Mine-manager).-—The output from this lease was obtained during the latter half of the year by the Nile Hydro Coal Syndicate by opencast methods. Three men were employed on this area. Wane's Mine, Charleston. —This mine was idle during the year. Bowater and Bryan's Opencast Mines, Charleston. —The output was maintained by Rata Collieries (W. Powell (Permit), Mine-manager), Nile Hydro Syndicate (E. Rooney (Quarry Permit), Mine-manager), and T. N. Mouat (R. Holbrook (Permit), Mine-manager). The coal and overburden were removed by hydraulic means. Fifteen men were employed. J. Powell's Lease, Charleston. —No coal was produced during the year. Allen's Opencast Mine, Charleston (E. Rooney (Quarry Permit), Mine-manager).—This mine was operated in the latter portion of the year by the Nile Hydro Syndicate. Three men were employed. Moynihan's Opencast Mine, Charleston. (E. Rooney (Quarry Permit), Mine-manager).—A small output was obtained by the Nile Hydro Syndicate during the early part of the year by opencasting. Three men were employed. Rata Collieries Opencast Mine, Charleston (W. Powell (Permit), Mine-manager).—Output was obtained from this opencast mine during the first half of the year by hydraulic means. Three men were employed. Sinclair's Opencast Mine, Charleston (E. Rooney (Quarry Permit), Mine-manager).—A small output was obtained from this mine by the Nile Hydro Syndicate during the early part of the year. Three men were employed-. Hillside Mine (Gemmell and Bennett), Charleston (R. Bennett (Deputy), Mine-manager).—The output was obtained from this lease by 3 men opencasting. Brighton Mine (Hunter's), Brighton (W. Cairns (Deputy), Mine-manager).—The output was maintained from development work and coal was transported from the working-places to the bins by hydraulic means. One man was employed on the surface and 2 men underground. Glencrag Mine (Glencrag Coal Co.), Buller Gorge (J. S. Blyth (Underviewer), Mine-manager).—-The output was obtained solely from pillar-extraction. One man was employed on the surface and 9 men underground. Glencrag Opencast Mine (Glencrag Coal Co.), Buller Gorge (R. Chester (Permit), Mine-manager).— Production was obtained from an area of coal adjoining the Glencrag underground mine. Overburden and coal were removed by hydraulic means. The seam is 12 ft. thick with an average thickness of overburden of 15 ft. Tiiree men were employed. Coal Creek Co-operative Party's Mine, Seddonville (R. Mulholland (Deputy), Mine-manager).— Coal was mainly obtained from pillar-extraction and cleaning up old roadways. One man was employed on the surface and 6 men underground. Cardiff Coal Co., Ltd., Mokihinui (J. Simpson (Deputy), Mine-manager).—Production was won solely from pillar-extraction, the coal being mined by hydraulic means. Operations ceased during the latter part of the year. One man was employed on the surface and 2 underground. Hydro Coal Mines Ltd., Seddonville (E. McKenney (Underviewer*), Mine-manager).—The output was won from pillar-extraction, cleaning up roadways when opening up a sealed-off section. One man was employed on the surface and 8 men underground. Charming Creek - Westport Coal Co., Ltd., Ngakawau (R. J. Wearn (First Class), Mine-manager).— Three pairs of miners were engaged throughout the year on pillar-extraction in No. 2 West Section. Seven pairs were engaged on development work in the main north-east headings. These workings were driven close to the northern boundary of the lease and the coal-seam decreased in thickness and contained near.y all dirt bands. Extraction then began in portions of this area, and at the end of the year 3 pairs were extracting and 5 pairs on solid work. Early in the year the transport road from Seddonville was completed and used for the transport of the men. A stone drive from the surface to open up about 40 acres of coal in the company's new lease area to the south of the present workings was driven approximately 7 chains. This work has since been stopped owing to an unfortunate accident to working in the drive. There are 3 chains to 4 chains of stone work to be done to complete the driving and it is hoped this work will be completed early in the New Year. Plant and machinery were maintained in good order, but no major additions or improvements were made during the year. A new bathhouse was completed. Twenty-one men were employed on the surface and 35 men underground. Westport-Cascade Mine, Cascade Creek (W. Brown (First Class), Mine-manager).—Output was obtained from Darkin's South, Moynihan's, and Mill Creek Sections. Durkin's South Section was abandoned in July due to further outbreak of fire, necessitating erection of concrete stoppings near the mine mouth. Moynihan's Section was on pillar-extraction in good-quality coal. In Mill Creek Section, pillar-extraction was continued. Two miners were on pillar work and 5 on solid in goodquality coal. Owing to an industrial dispute, operations ceased as from 18th October. This seam is mined by hydraulic means. Seven men were employed on the surface and 10 men underground.

60